30 June 2011

Sixteen-year-old Seph McCauley has spent the past three years getting kicked out of one exclusive private school after another. And it’s not his attitude that’s the problem: it’s the trail of magical accidents—lately, disasters—that follow in his wake. Seph is a wizard, orphaned and untrained, and his powers are escalating out of control.

After causing a tragic fire at an after-hours party, Seph is sent to the Havens, a secluded boys’ school on the coast of Maine. Gregory Leicester, the headmaster, promises to train Seph in magic and initiate him into his mysterious order of wizards. But Seph’s enthusiasm dampens when he learns that training comes at a steep cost, and that Leicester plans to use his students’ powers to serve his own wicked agenda.

29 June 2011

For many years, the city of Colossae was a haven of magical study. As generations of wizards pushed the limits of their abilities, an evil entity was unleashed that could only be contained by the sacrifice of their city. From the ashes of Colossae, the Travelers emerged - roaming the world to ensure that the Stalker would remain imprisoned forever...

Seraph is a Raven mage and among the last of the Travelers. Unwelcome among those who fear magic, the wizard clans have been decimated by the very people they've sworn to protect. But Seraph is spared a similar fate by the ex-soldier Tier - and together they build a life where she is no longer burdened by her people's responsibility.

But now Tier is missing - or dead - and Seraph's reprieve from her duty is over. Using her magic to discover her husband's fate, Seraph realizes the Stalker's prison is weakening - and only she can fulfill her ancestors' oath to protect humanity from destruction...

28 June 2011

For centuries, rumors have abounded of a lowly caste of supernatural beings known as the Terrae Angeli. Armed with the power to control Earth, Fire, Wind and Water, these warriors secretly serve as guardians for mortals in danger.

But for one young angel-in-training, Griffin, life is hell as a cruel master makes his apprenticeship a nightmare. On the verge of failing, a new mentor, Basil, enters his life and changes it forever.

Taking on the identity of father and son, Griffin and Basil forge a special bond where honesty and trust go hand in hand to secure Griffin’s destiny as a Terrae Angeli. Griffin’s belief in himself and the love of a mortal girl are the perfect combination in overcoming the darkest days of his life. But will it be enough for him to succeed?

For Griffin, it’s time to angel up.

Today, I have the pleasure and honor to feature an interview with Darby Karchut, author of debut novel Griffin Rising. In a young adult world dominated by coming of age heroines and bloodsucking heroes, Darby Karchut presents a story where the main character doesn’t creep on girls at night and doesn’t grow fur when trouble strikes. Our boy Griffin is an angel—a Terrae Angeli in fact. You like angel stories right? Of course you do. That’s why you’re sneaking fond glances at your copy of Hush, Hush stowed in your bag under the table. Well today you can go grab a copy of Darby Karchut’s gem Griffin Rising at your favorite local or online drug—*cough*—excuse me, I mean bookstore.

To celebrate the release of her debut, I have Ms. Darby here to answer a few questions.

27 June 2011

Allison La Crosse, beginning a challenging family medicine residency, leaves the protection of her family. With the transfer, her worst nightmares come true. Her closely guarded mystical talents – those which seldom appeared before the move – unleash themselves from her confinement and reveal their presence with very little provocation.

Allison’s most terrifying power is her compulsion to cure the dying with her touch. Given her career, this gift would be valuable if she were not drawn like a magnet to the ailing person's every symptom. Some of which are fatal.

At the hospital and surrounded by life-and-death emergencies, Allison’s inability to manage her impulse turns deadly. When it does, her mentor, Brody, rescues her from her own demise. His resuscitation ignites an exciting and tempestuous bond between them.

Desperate for a cure, they join forces and embark upon a journey to uncover the origins of Allison’s lethal curse. In the midst of their adventure, Allison exposes a secret pursued by many…known by few.

26 June 2011

Now, you have to admit that missing six straight weeks of IMM posts is pretty incredible? And you can take that either positively or negatively. You should probably lean towards negative because I was just plain lazy and since sloth is one of the seven deadly sins, I should be watching my back right about now.

School is out; summer is raging. I’ve gotten more books read in the few weeks I’ve been out of school than I have all year. (Don’t quote me on that, I just felt like saying it.) But, ladies and gentlemen, you are officially looking at a senior. No, don’t be alarmed! We don’t bite. The freshmen are the vampires.

So besides lazing about, getting some reading done and generally failing to organize my bookshelf in any aesthetically pleasing way, I do have a lot of books to share. Take care that some have already been passed on and others have already been returned to the place from whence they came, but it’s my best.

Besides books that have already left my literary sanctuary, my birthday recently took place. For said birthday, I asked for six books—two of which are already published, four that are preordered. Those two that have been published have not come in yet. I now fully understand the emotion behind “going postal”. I will share those two books with you when they’ve arrived.

2010-2011 Yearbook | Yearbook Staff Figured this counts, though it isn’t fiction. I really liked this year at school; made some really good friends.

1001 Things Every College Student Needs to Know | Harry H. Harrison Jr Besides being hilarious (and having a very alliterate name) it does have some good-sounding advice in here. It’s fitting because I’ll be heading off to college in a year and I’m worried as heck about it.

The Eyes of a King | Catherine Banner I’ve already read and reviewed this (see review here) and it was so-so. I’ve heard some great things about Banner’s work and I might just check out the sequel to this.

The Wizard Heir | Cinda Williams Chima Read, reviewed (review coming 6/30). This is the sequel to The Warrior Heir (see review here). I really enjoyed the second installment in the Heir Chronicles. So I also bought…

The Dragon Heir | Cinda Williams Chima It’s a hardy looking book at 500 or so pages. I’m thrilled to have found out a little while ago that there is also a sequel to this book—or there will be. The Enchanter Heir is scheduled to release 2013—wow they’re really trying for mass killings, aren’t they, making everyone suspenseful like that.

The Faerie Path | Frewin Jones& The Lost Queen | Frewin Jones I haven’t read this series in a while but I remember it being very good. So I want to reread this book and make sure I get a review of it up.

The Throne of Fire | Rick Riordan I don’t remember if I ever put up that I’d bought this but oh well. I’m covering all my bases here. I love Rick Riordan’s work and I’m really looking forward to this sequel to The Red Pyramid (review here).

Ranger’s Apprentice: The Emperor of Nihon-Ja | John Flanagan John Flanagan is one of my favorite authors from my tween years. I think I picked up the first book Ruins of Gorlan when I was…eleven? I own all the books (ranging editions, ugh) but I’ve only gotten up to book 8, The Kings of Clonmel. John Flanagan is a master storyteller. Can’t wait to start on this book.

Not Pictured:Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma, Warriors of the Cross (reprint) by T. R. Graves

what did you get in your mailbox?

24 June 2011

Armed with the power to control the ancient elements of Earth and Fire, sixteen-year-old Griffin is determined to complete his apprenticeship and rise to the rank of Terrae Angeli.

But first, he must overcome a brutal past if he is to survive in this world. Will the perseverance of his mentor and the love of a mortal girl give Griffin the courage he needs to face the monster still haunting him?

18 June 2011

Leo North has spent five years remembering—remembering and writing about the time in his life when his prospects, although limited, still existed. He has recalled the tediousness of attending military school and the oppressiveness of living with his pious, fearful grandmother and his younger brother, Stirling. He has conjured up memories of the reluctance he felt about using his innate magical powers. He has relived the moment when everything changed.

Five years ago, Leo found a blank book in the snow and immediately sensed its power. Words started to appear on the pages. Passages wove together his family’s past, the history of his country, Malonia—and that of a parallel world called England, where Ryan, the heir to the Malonian throne, was exiled. At the same time, the all-too-real challenges of his life closed in on him. And the book, initially an escape, became inextricably linked to Leo and his world.

Leo has written about the painful events he experienced when his seemingly narrow path took some unexpected tragic turns and he found himself on a journey from which he never really returned. He has spent five years retracing his steps and filling in the blanks. This is Leo’s explanation. This is the book.

14 June 2011

So the insane sudden desire to watch Anastasia aside, the fact remains that I am now OUT OF SCHOOL! AND A RISING SENIOR! Yup, that’s right dudes. Next year, I’m ruling the school. ^_^

This year was pretty good. I met new friends and reconnected with old ones, even if I didn’t manage to get my original goal of 100 books read. I changed the goal to 50 a couple of months ago and I actually made that goal with a book to spare.

Bold signifies an ARC review (actually have a few of those!!), the asterisk signifies it’s a part of the 2011 debut author challenge, and if it’s in italics it means I never actually finished the book.

Favorite Read of the Year:of 2010: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchettaof 2011: Exile by Anne Osterlund

That was a pretty awesome school year in terms of books, yes? Now I can finally tackle my summer reading list!

As for the summer reads, I’m taking care of a few that I haven’t allowed myself to read this school year because of how big they are. For example, the compilation of the Narnia books.

I think I’m going to do my summer reading a bit differently. It will require Y’ALLS help! :)

So I was thinking…every Sunday when I finally get around to doing my In My Mailbox, the first two commenters would give me numbers between a given range. Those would be the books I’d read that week! The only exception to this would be when I had library books or an ARC tour book because those are under a time constraint.

Just look for the number range in my IMM posts and be one of the first two to comment!

And no, I’m not letting you see the list of my summer reading. Nice try. ;)

As for a goal for the summer, I don’t really have one. I’ll just read as many as I see fit. :)

13 June 2011

Chloe’s older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can’t be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby’s friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns home two years later, a precarious and deadly balance waits…watches. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

Imaginary Girls is a masterfully distorted vision of family, reminiscent of Shirley Jackson, laced with twists that beg for their secrets to be kept.

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About

Amelia RobinsonLexington, KY

I am a lover of a great many things: hero's stories, quotes, purple things, nail polish properly applied, British shows, exquisitely simple templates, eos lip balms in a clear jar, warm beds in winter, 50 chaotic pages of a draft, unknowable characters, Christmas songs in June, a bit of philosophy, a dash of psychology, the piano on a rainy day, a good daydream.

I am a 21-year-old college student and an aspiring writer. I would love to be your friend. Especially if you like a good story. Read more..